Murder confession comes 21 years later
Unable to deal with the weight of his deadly secret, at 3:30 p.m. on December 15, Kenneth Jackson Jr. walked into Phoenix Police headquarters and asked to speak with a homicide detective. Jackson, 52, was then contacted by a member of the Homicide Unit in the lobby of 620 W. Washington where he explained that he wanted to turn himself in for a murder he committed 21 years ago.
Far left is victim Marlon Darton, right is suspect Kenneth Jackson.
Jackson told detectives that in November of 1988 he entered the home of 78 year-old Marlon Darton, whom he had known only slightly, with the intent to rob him; but killed Darton, took his wallet and fled the home. Jackson said at the time of the attack he was “strung out” on drugs and had needed money for his next “fix”.
Shortly after the homicide, Kenneth Jackson fled Arizona and went to Southern California where he began to change his life. He cleaned himself of drugs, obtained a decent job and bought a home. During this same time period his father was terminally ill and, according to Mr. Jackson, he confessed the crime to his father, who in turn advised him before he passed away to “get back to the church and fix this”. Jackson continued his rejuvenated life, but was not happy. After approximately 21 years of living with what he had done, he chose to return to Phoenix and turn himself in. He had specific information about the homicide that only the suspect could know.
Kenneth Jackson Jr. was later booked into jail on one count of first degree murder and one count of armed robbery.